Pena fans nine in debut, pushes BayBears past Shrimp

[Empty Body]

MOBILE, Ala. (August 20, 2017) - The Mobile BayBears, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, wrapped up a five-game home series with a 9-3 victory over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Sunday evening at Hank Aaron Stadium.
Luis Pena (1-0) shut down the Jumbo Shrimp (58-66 overall, 28-26 second half) in his Double-A debut. He only allowed one unearned run on three hits in six innings pitched. Pena became the second BayBears (58-66, 27-26) pitcher to strike out nine batters in a game this year, and he did not issue a walk.
Matt Thaiss and Jose Rojas both had RBI doubles in the first inning to open the scoring against Joe Gunkel (4-9). Thaiss drove in two runs with another double in the eighth inning to finish with three RBI.
Zach Houchins also hit a two-run homer in the fifth. The BayBears had four different two-run innings.
The BayBears begin a five-game road series against the Biloxi Shuckers Monday at 6:35 p.m. CT. Right-handed pitcher Jesus Castillo (0-0, 6.52 ERA) is scheduled to make the start against righty Corbin Burnes (3-3, 2.20 ERA) for the Jumbo Shrimp. Live coverage can be seen on MiLB.tv (Biloxi feed, subscription required, promo code: BAYBEARS) and heard on the BayBears Broadcast Network, the TuneIn Radio App, and the MiLB First Pitch App, with the Countdown to First Pitch starting at 6:15 p.m. CT.
The BayBears host a total of 70 home dates through Labor Day, September 4. Single-game tickets and ticket packages are currently on sale. Season tickets and group and hospitality offerings for the 2017 season can be reserved by calling (251) 479-BEAR (2327).
The 2018 BayBears schedule has been released and is available by clicking here. Game times and promotions will be announced at a later date.
 
About the Mobile BayBears
The Mobile BayBears are the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles of Anaheim and play their games at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The BayBears were founded in 1997 and have won four Southern League titles in 1998, 2004, 2011, and 2012. Additionally, the 1998 and 2011 championship squads were named Minor League Team of the Year by Baseball America. More than 160 former BayBears have reached the Major League level, including All-Stars Max Scherzer, Paul Goldschmidt, Jake Peavy, Carlos González, and Justin Upton. For more information on the Mobile BayBears and Hank Aaron Stadium, please visit MobileBayBears.com, call (251) 479-BEAR (2327), or contact Steve Goldberg via email at [email protected].
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